What is the correct first step when multiplying mixed numbers?
A. Rewrite the mixed numbers as improper fractions.
B. Eliminate common factors between the whole numbers.
C. Find a common denominator.
D. Cross multiply numerators and denominators
but what are all the answers
1 1/3 * 3 = 4/3 * 3
I think it's D, am I wrong?
Before you can do D, you need at least A
Even after doing A, you would not "cross-multiply" numerators and denominators
when multiplying two fractions.
e.g. (4/7)(3/8) = 12/56
= 3/14 , I multiplied the numerators and the denominators, then reduced to lowest terms
Once you become more comfortable with it, you can "cancel" common factors
in the numerators and the denominators.
I see now, thanks Reiny and oobleck!
The correct first step when multiplying mixed numbers is A. Rewrite the mixed numbers as improper fractions.
To explain how to do this, let's use an example. Let's say we want to multiply 2 and 3/4 by 1 and 1/2.
Step 1: Rewrite the mixed numbers as improper fractions.
To do this, we multiply the whole number by the denominator of the fraction, then add the numerator.
For 2 and 3/4, we calculate 2 * 4 (denominator) + 3 (numerator), which gives us 8 + 3 = 11. So, 2 and 3/4 as an improper fraction is 11/4.
For 1 and 1/2, we calculate 1 * 2 (denominator) + 1 (numerator), which gives us 2 + 1 = 3. So, 1 and 1/2 as an improper fraction is 3/2.
Now that we have rewritten both mixed numbers as improper fractions, we can proceed with the multiplication.